OATS_Transit

OATS Transit

OATS Transit

American transport company

OATS Transit Inc. (OATS being an initialism for operating above the standard) is an American 501(c) private not-for-profit road transport corporation, which operates in all 114 counties of Missouri.

Quick Facts Trade name, Industry ...

History

OATS was founded in 1970 in Macon, Missouri as a private company. It started with five drivers serving eight counties.[1] The first vans were used in November 1971, starting out with only three.[2] In 1973, they were changed into a nonprofit by the state of Missouri.[3]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, they suspended their services in St. Louis County and St. Charles County,[4] and later provided free rides for people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.[5] On July 1, 2023, they stopped accepting cash payments, instead requiring riders to pay online, for $2 for a one-way ride.[6]

Employment and transportation

In 2022, OATS employees gave 1 million rides and traveled 11 million miles, averaging 4,200 rides a day. They employ 560 people, with 100 of those people working in offices, and the remaining 460 being drivers.[1][2]

OATS provides transportation every day of the year except for on certain holidays. They provide scheduled transportation, similar to city buses, and in some counties, door-to-door transportation, similar to Uber.[3]

Donations

In 2021, the city of Adair County gave OATS a $1,500 check to provide door-to-door service.[7] That same year, they received a grant from the Laclede Electric Trust during a driver shortage to buy a new minivan to use in Camden County.[8]

In 2022, they received a $100,000 grant from the Sunderland Foundation.[9]

In 2023, they received a $2,500 donation from POET Bioprocessing to fund transportation.[10] In January 2024, they received a $4,000 donation from Cuivre River Electric Cooperative, also to fund a vehicle.[11]

In March 2024, they received a $16,052 grant from the Boone Electric Community Trust.[12]

References

  1. [1]
    "OATS Transit celebrates 50 years in business". Lincoln County Journal. February 18, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. [2]
    "OATS Transit is more than a ride". Como. January 29, 2023.
  3. [3]
    "City of Warrensburg request for funding 2020-2021". Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  4. [4]
    Anderson, Kelsi (March 23, 2020). "OATS Transit suspends service in St. Louis and St. Charles counties". KSDK. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  5. [5]
    Willis, Jasmine (January 31, 2021). "Experiencing driver shortage, OATS Transit receives $7,700 grant from Laclede Electric Trust". KRCG.
  6. [6]
    Oberholtz, Mackenzie (June 24, 2023). "OATS announces its transportation services will no longer accept cash". KOMU-TV.
  7. [7]
    "Adair County Commission presents check to OATS Transit". KTVO. March 24, 2021.
  8. [8]
    Mahacek, Liza (June 14, 2021). "Experiencing driver shortage, OATS Transit receives $7,700 grant from Laclede Electric Trust". KOMU-TV. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  9. [9]
    "OATS Transit receives $100,000 grant". My Courier Tribune. July 7, 2022.
  10. [10]
    "OATS Transit receives $2,500 donation from POET Bioprocessing". Mass Transit Magazine. June 8, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  11. [11]
    "OATS Transit to purchase vehicle with local grant". Mass Transit Magazine. January 11, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  12. [12]
    Baechle, Shea (March 14, 2024). "OATS Transit receives grant money for new buses". KRCG. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article OATS_Transit, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.